Middle East

Vance: Preventing Iran From Acquiring Nuclear Weapons Is a “Red Line”

This is Beirut 10:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

NuclearTalks Iran Vance Trump USIran USA

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said Wednesday that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains a top priority for Washington, stressing that President Donald Trump has repeatedly made clear that Tehran crossing that threshold would constitute a red line for the United States. Speaking on The Megyn Kelly Show, Vance said the Trump ...

U.S. to Resume Iran Nuclear Talks After Brief Cancellation Signal

This is Beirut 04/02 23:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United States Iran Trump Oman Nuclear Talks

Senior U.S. officials said on Wednesday that they will proceed with plans to convene in Muscat, Oman on Friday to discuss the nuclear issue after reports earlier in the day signaled a cancellation of the talks. The U.S. has modified its position on the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks after nine Arab and Muslim countries lobbied for U.S. participation ...

Chevron Signs Agreement with Syria and Qatari Conglomerate for Syrian Energy Exploration

This is Beirut 04/02 19:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria United States Qatar Energy

Chevron has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Syrian Petroleum Company and UCC Holding, a Qatari conglomerate, on assessing offshore oil and gas exploration off Syria’s coast, according to a Reuters report on Wednesday. U.S. Syria envoy Tom Barrack also attended the signing of the agreement, signaling U.S. approval as the ...

Aoun Orders Inquiry Into Israel’s Spraying of Unknown Substance in South Lebanon

This is Beirut 04/02 18:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel

President Joseph Aoun instructed the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday to investigate Israel’s spraying of an unknown substance on southern Lebanese land to document the violations for international bodies. He declared that “these dangerous practices…require the international community and relevant United ...

US-Iran Talks Expected in Oman, but Scope Under Discussion: Arab Diplomat

This is Beirut 04/02 16:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Iran Talks Oman

Talks between the United States and Iran are expected to take place in Oman, but the scope of the discussions still needs to be agreed, an Arab diplomat told AFP on Wednesday. "A meeting is requested in Oman by the Iranians, and the Americans have approved the location, but the parameters of discussions are still being worked on," the diplomat ...

Turkey Again Blocks Aid Convoy for Kurds in Syria: NGO

This is Beirut 04/02 11:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Kurds Kobane SyriaConflict HumanRights Turkey

Turkish authorities have blocked for a second time an aid convoy from reaching the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane that's been overwhelmed by people fleeing fighting, a local NGO said on Wednesday. As the Syrian army and Kurdish forces clash in Syria, Kobane has been inundated by people trying to escape the hostilities. Last week, Turkish ...

Iran Formally Allows Women to Ride Motorcycles

This is Beirut 04/02 11:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Iran HumanRights WomenRights IranProtests WomenFreedom

Women in Iran can now formally obtain a license to ride a motorcycle, local media reported Wednesday, ending years of legal ambiguity surrounding two-wheelers. The law previously did not explicitly prohibit women from riding motorbikes and scooters, but in practice authorities refused to issue licenses. Due to the legal grey area, women have ...

U.S. Downs Iranian Drone Flying Toward Aircraft Carrier

This is Beirut 04/02 09:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Turkey USA Iran Oman

A U.S. Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday. The drone “aggressively approached” the aircraft carrier with “unclear intent” and kept flying toward it “despite deescalatory measures taken by ...

Iraq PM Candidate Maliki Says Majority Bloc Has Final Say on Nomination

This is Beirut 04/02 09:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States USA Washington

Iraq's main candidate for the premiership, Nouri al-Maliki, said Tuesday that withdrawing his candidacy would jeopardise Iraqi sovereignty after US threats and he would only step aside if his electoral bloc asks him to. Last week, US President Donald Trump, in his latest intervention in another country's politics, issued an ultimatum, ...

Turkey's Erdogan Visits Saudi as Ties Between Former Rivals Warm

This is Beirut 04/02 09:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Turkey Gulf Israel Palestine Saudi Arabia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Riyadh on Tuesday in his first visit in more than two years, as ties warm between Saudi Arabia and its rival-turned-ally. Ankara hopes to "finalise negotiations towards a free trade agreement between Turkey and the member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)", the Turkish presidency said. "The two ...

U.S. Tanker Approached by Iranian Gunboats in Strait of Hormuz

This is Beirut 03/02 21:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Iran

A US-flagged tanker was approached and challenged on Tuesday by Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz, before continuing on its way, US Central Command said. CENTCOM spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said two Iranian boats and a drone approached the US-flagged ship M/V Stena Imperative "at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the ...

‘Moment Could Be Fleeting’: U.S. Congressional Hearing on Curbing Hezbollah

This is Beirut 03/02 19:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United States Lebanon Hezbollah Disarmament Reform

Policy experts told the U.S. Congress that dismantling Hezbollah’s malign influence in Lebanon will require leveraging Washington’s support for Beirut to secure measurable progress on the militant group’s disarmament, as well as political and financial reforms, thereby strengthening state sovereignty. On Tuesday, the House Foreign Affairs ...